Photo © Karin Kliewer |
When I became pregnant two years ago, I was elated! My journey
to motherhood had begun. Our daughter arrived exactly one week before her due
date, at home, into the waiting arms of her father. Labor had gone quickly, and
I gave birth naturally without any medications or other interventions. Watching
my newborn baby wiggle her way up my bare belly to instinctively start nursing
at my breast, I knew firsthand what a miracle birthing and mothering truly is.
I attributed my smooth pregnancy and speedy labor to several factors. About a
year earlier, I had reduced my busy work schedule down to part-time, which
allowed more time to care for myself and to reconnect with my husband. I
nurtured myself with whole organic foods, regular yoga, long daily walks, plenty
of rest, affirmative birthing stories, and supportive loving people. I read Ina
May Gaskin’s Spiritual Midwifery, and La Leche League’s The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding. My husband made notes from Penny Simkin’s The Birth Partner and
taped them to our fridge. We discussed the benefits of water births, learned
about attachment parenting and family bed sharing, purchased cloth diapers and a
sling, and prepared ourselves for what we knew would be a transformative
experience. I also turned to what felt familiar and comforting to me – herbs.
For the previous decade, I had been studying and practicing herbal healing. I
had completed certification as a master herbalist, and apprenticed with an herb
farm to learn about growing, drying, processing, and wild crafting medicinal
herbs. I had many of these useful plants growing in my own garden, close at
hand. Over the years, I had established a small home-based herbal business
focusing on natural care for the whole family, and with the help of my sister (a
practicing midwife), had developed salves, teas, and oils specific to mama and
baby care. During the last trimester of my pregnancy, I finished training as a
post-partum doula, and added herbal post-partum care to my repertoire. Although
I had shared my herbal knowledge with countless other people, here was a unique
opportunity to use these skills to strengthen, heal, and nourish not only myself
but also my newborn child.
For centuries, medicinal plants, flowers, and common garden “weeds” have been
used to provide gentle, effective care for women during pregnancy and
post-partum, and by parents for their children. Women were often trusted keepers
of herbal knowledge, working as midwives and healers in their communities.
Mothers knew which healing plants could be used for their households, where and
when to gather herbs, how to grow and dry them properly, and correct ways to
administer them safely. I long to see a return to this common understanding of
using healing plants in the home, and have tried to share this knowledge with my
community by teaching workshops, sharing seedlings, and offering advice.
You don’t need to be a certified herbalist to work with medicinal plants, and
an herbal kitchen need not have complicated tools – measuring cups, a crock-pot
or double boiler, a few stainless steel pots, mixing spoons, glass mason jars,
and a good kitchen scale will do. However, you do need basic understanding of
how to properly identify plants, when to harvest and which parts of the plant
are usable, how to dry and store them, the correct dosage for your remedies, and
which plants are safe during pregnancy and post-partum, or for infants and
children.
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For centuries, medicinal plants, flowers, and common garden “weeds”
have been used to provide gentle, effective care for women during pregnancy and
post-partum, and by parents for their children. |
Properly Identifying Plants
If possible, grow the herbs yourself using organic methods. If you don’t have
the space to grow them, buy your plants from reputable organic sources in
minimally processed or bulk form. If you are wild-harvesting herbs, take an
easy-to-follow plant field guidebook like Newcombes or Peterson’s so you are
sure to properly identify the plants. Even better is to start out wild
harvesting by accompanying someone who is knowledgeable so you can learn side by
side. To not over-harvest, it is advised to pick no more than one-quarter or
one-third of a plant. Do not pick in an area that is near a roadway, or which
may be chemically sprayed or otherwise contaminated with noxious fumes.
When to Harvest
Herbs should be harvested when they are at their peak, so having basic
understanding about their growing cycle is helpful. Knowing whether to use the
leaves, flowers, berries, roots, or even bark is also important. Leaves and
blossoms are best harvested just before noon, when the volatile oils have
reached them and the morning dew has dried, but before they start to wilt from
the afternoon heat. Only choose healthy plants, and be careful never to cut the
main root when digging herbal roots.
Drying and Storing Herbs
Herbs can generally be used fresh for making all manner of herbal products.
For long-term storage, they should be dried, either by air-drying or with a food
dehydrator. To air dry, hang bunches of herbs in a well-ventilated, cool room
out of direct sunlight. They are ready when they are crisply dried, but still
retain a rich color (not brown). Hanging flowering herbs, like lavender or
chamomile, covered with a brown paper bag punched with air holes, helps to catch
the blossoms that may fall off as they dry. If any herbs develop mold, they were
not dried with enough air circulation and should not be used. Herbs that are
fully dry can be stored in glass jars in a closed cupboard, or in brown paper
bags. If kept properly, they will last for a year or more.
Determining Dosage of Herbal Remedies
Because something is natural does not mean it is always safe to use, or
right for every situation. Although many herbs are gentle, dosage – to be
effective yet safe – is important. For example, red raspberry leaf, though
generally considered a wonderful herb to use during pregnancy, for toning the
uterus in preparation for childbirth and providing a rich source of calcium and
minerals, may be advised in moderation if you have a history of short labor.
Books such as The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual, by James
Green, give excellent detailed description on making remedies and assessing
proper dosage.
Using Herbs
It is always wise to consult with your midwife or qualified health
practitioner if you are considering taking herbal remedies during pregnancy.
There are many wonderful tonic herbs that can aid everything from morning
sickness, to increasing milk supply, to combating post-partum blues. However,
there is also a lengthy list of plants that should be used with caution or
avoided during pregnancy. For example, strong labor-inducing herbs, like black
or blue cohosh, should not be used until the final stage of pregnancy and again
under consultation with your midwife.
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Because something is natural does not mean it is always safe to
use, or right for every situation. Although many herbs are gentle, dosage – to be
effective yet safe – is important. |
When making products like salves or massage oils for your infant/child,
always use the best quality, organic and purest ingredients you can afford (e.g.
pure olive, sweet almond oil, apricot oil, cocoa butter, pure beeswax). Use only
pure essential oils (or even no essential oils), as fragrance oils are synthetic
and may cause allergic reactions when used on sensitive skin.
Advantages of Using Herbs
Having knowledge of a handful of simple herbal remedies during pregnancy,
post-partum and for baby care can be an empowering experience for mothers and
other caregivers. Here are six reasons why:
1) Connecting with your new baby:
Preparing gentle healing products in advance of your baby’s birth, such as
diaper rash salves or baby massage oils, can be a special way to connect with
your baby while she/he is still in utero. While preparing these gentle remedies,
talk with your unborn child explaining how you will welcome, nurture, and care
for her/him.
2) Feeling prepared for labor, post-partum and baby care:
Herbal products can be prepared in advance for use during labor and birth. Talk
with your partner and midwife, and write your ideas into your birth plan so that
your wishes for using healing herbs are not forgotten when the time comes. For
example, herbal spritzers made with uplifting pure essential oils like sweet
orange or grapefruit can help to generate positive energy in the birthing room
and restart stalled labor. Herbal sitz bath blends for healing stitches or sore
bottoms can be made by mixing comfrey, yarrow, calendula, and lavender.
Preparing these various herbal products can be a way for you to discuss your
needs and desires about medical interventions and infant care with your partner
and midwife, and feel more prepared to take control of your labor, birth, and
post-partum care.
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Making your own herbal products is a great way to save
money while ensuring excellent quality. |
3) Stretching your dollar:
There are so many mama and baby products available for sale these days that it’s
sometimes hard to know where to start. However, good quality organic herbal
products that are effective are not cheap and, depending where they are from,
may come with additional costs for shipping or packaging. If you are a mother on
a tight budget, yet want the best organic care for your children, preparing your
own herbal remedies (just like growing your own food) can save substantial
money. Follow simple recipes, in books such as The Family Herbal by
Rosemary Gladstar, Natural Pregnancy by Aviva Jill Romm, or Herbal
Healing for the Childbearing Year by Susun S. Weed, which offer clear
step-by-step instruction and use familiar herbs you may already be growing in
your own garden.
For example, lavender, calendula, chamomile, fennel, catnip, lemon balm,
peppermint, and yarrow are excellent multi-purpose healing plants for mom and/or
baby that are easy to start with. Packaging for your homemade herbal products
does not need to be fancy or expensive – use recycled glass jars for salves,
paper lunch bags to store loose-leaf herb blends, or repurposed amber bottles
that are often available from naturopathic clinics. Store your products in a
cool, dry, dark location (such as a cupboard) and they will last for many years.
4) Involving older siblings:
Creating your own herbal products at home offers the perfect opportunity for an
older sibling to get involved. There are plenty of tasks that children of all
ages can help with: harvesting herbs from the garden; tying them into bunches to
dry; measuring, weighing, and stirring in other ingredients; or designing
special homemade labels for the bottles. While working side by side, you can
talk with your older child about his/her feelings toward the new baby and allow
an early bond to form with the new baby through this handmade herbal gift.
5) Building confidence as a new parent:
We all want the best for our children and when we make our own herbal healing
remedies and know how to administer them, we can feel prepared to quickly take
charge when care is needed for minor ailments and illnesses. During the process
of researching recipes and creating herbal products, you will learn when and how
to use herbs effectively. With your herbal medicine cabinet well stocked with
items like calendula salve for diaper rashes, arnica for bumps and bruises,
fennel tea for colic, massage oils for cradle cap, sage cough syrup for sore
throats, and herbal baths to ease congestion, you will know that your family is
getting the best care possible. And by using herbs in a day-to-day practice, you
will be passing on this valuable knowledge to your children.
6) Sharing knowledge with others: When learning about healing herbs, remember that you really only need to know a
few plants well – many herbs are versatile and have multiple uses. Build a
relationship with these plants by using them in your daily routines, and tending
them in your own garden. Try out the following easy recipes for a diaper salve,
sleep tea, and herbal sitz bath, and start building your collection of simple
effective herbal remedies. As you become more confident in working with herbs,
you will find plenty of opportunity to share your skills and pass the empowering
knowledge of herbal healing on to other households.
Karin Kliewer is an herbalist and post-partum doula who operates
a small natural soap and herbal business called Homestead Herbals. She lives
with her family at Little City Farm, an urban homestead
and eco Bed & Breakfast in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
